Old Bloke On An Old Bike
The story of the restoration of a 1950s classic bicycle for a Land's End – John O'Groats charity ride in aid of Alzheimer's Society
18 Jun 2016: The first week done
Despite the rainy start, a lovely 55 mile ride through Shropshire to Stone in Staffordshire. I was vainly trying to remember the famous lines from Houseman’s A Shropshire Lad. Anyway, here they are now:
“Into my heart on air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?
That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.”
The gentle Shropshire hills are wonderful, and most of the hedgerows have survived, so travelling on minor roads is a delight.
Have now done some maintenance work on the bike and had a great dinner with family in Stone, so all is well – except for my chest infection which is stubbornly hanging on. Unless it clears up soon, I suppose I’ll have to take a couple of days out to see a doctor and get some antibiotics. Let’s hope not.
A hilly ride through the Peak District to Dore tomorrow, so an early night and a good sleep, I hope.
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Old Bloke On An Old Bike 